Heyven was first imagined in 2020 by Marcus Styles and Brian Andry, two creative professionals in Minnesota who saw the need for a more interconnected and inclusive small business community.

After several successful years working together and operating our branding agency, VZNCY, we found ourselves in a slow season at the end of 2022. During this time, it became difficult to find new work and new connections, and we met many other business owners who experienced similar difficulties connecting with Minnesota’s segmented and insular business community.

It seemed to us that Minnesota needed a one-stop info hub—a place that makes it easy to discover, shop, hire, and connect with local businesses. We wanted to be able to find businesses that are owned and operated by people from specific backgrounds and communities. We wanted to broaden our circle, expand our knowledge, and feel like we're part of something bigger.

When we couldn't a place that did all of this, we realized we needed to build it ourselves. We set to work, and six months later we officially launched Heyven in June 2023.  

Heyven is a more than a directory—we're a community. We're bringing like-minded people together to network, share valuable knowledge and resources, and support each other. In Minnesota alone, there are over 525,000 small businesses, and we believe that shopping and supporting local is vital to the growth of our economy.

Our goal is to create a thriving small business ecosystem and we can't do it without your help.